The extreme drought and perilous storms of the Dust Bowl forced over 2.5 million people across the Great Plains to flee their homes. But for those who stayed behind, the relentless dust became a part of everyday life. Lauren Tarshis's action-packed story of one boy who braved the dust storms will have readers glued to the page.

The biggest dust storm in U.S. history...

When a drought turns the farmland of the Texas Panhandle into a dry wasteland, eleven-year-old Ray's world begins to crumble. Fierce dust storms blacken the sky and destroy everything in their path.

Ray and his best friend, Dolly, do their chores and go to school. But there's nothing they can do to save their struggling town or the thousands of people who are sick from the filthy air.

Then Ray learns a family secret. He sets out to help his parents . . . and ends up caught in the most vicious dust storm of them all. Will Ray make it through? Will he ever see his parents again?

New York Times bestselling author Lauren Tarshis tells the story of how one boy perseveres and finds hope in a time of desolation and destruction. Includes a section of nonfiction back matter with more facts and photos about the real-life event.